CDC program among top in the nation

  • Published
  • By Dennisse Jones
  • Goodfellow CDC director
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - --  The Child Development Center, here, has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Dennisse Jones, Director of the CDC. "NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible. We are dedicated to providing quality, affordable care in a safe, caring environment in support of the local military community. Currently, we are the only child care center within a 50 mile radius of the base that holds this credential."

To earn NAEYC accreditation, the CDC went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The program received NAEYC accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets all standards. During the on-site visit, the CDC met every standard overall. For individual classrooms observed, the percentages of met criteria ranged in scores from 95 to 100 percent.

In the 25 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC, about eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

"The NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for child care centers and other early childhood programs," said Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph.D, executive director of NAEYC. "Having earned NAEYC accreditation is a sign that the Goodfellow CDC is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education."

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In 2006, the association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.

The NAEYC accreditation system was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. To earn NAEYC accreditation, a program must meet each of the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.

For more information about NAEYC accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.